Storing Rice and Flour

... and other dry goods

A visitor to our site asked: "I'm interested in storing rice and flour...and dry beans. Can you store these dry goods? And—if so—how?"

My short answer: "yes." Now for the "how to"!

In the photo above, you'll see I've got flour stored in Mylar bags, and then I put them in the large plastic lidded bins.

Even though the flour, rice, and beans are "dry" to begin with, if you're interested in storing these items safely, for long-term storage, then follow the vacuuming-sealing method used when storing your dehydrated foods.

We're all about protecting our foods from the three enemies: Light, Air, and Moisture.

I still strongly advise adding an oxygen absorber into the individual vacuum-sealer bags as they keep mold-growth at bay. You'll also protect your flour and rice from insect damage, too.

Use an Oxygen Absorber in
Jars, Bags, and Buckets

50cc Oxygen Absorbers

100cc Oxygen Absorbers

300cc Oxygen Absorbers

2000cc Oxygen Absorbers

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Oxygen absorber sizes range from 50cc, to 100cc, to 300cc, and to a whopping 2000cc!

Why is there such a size range? When using smaller Mason jars, a 50cc oxygen absorber is ideal. For a larger quart-size Mason jar, then a 100cc size will be fine.

Store for Medium-Term Usage in Mason Jars

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If you live in a humid area and are simply wanting to keep your dry goods dry, then try using Mason jars. These are ideal for those bakers who use flour on a weekly basis.

You can add an oxygen absorber in the Mason jar - the primary job of an oxygen absorber "is" to absorb oxygen, as the name implies.

Storing Rice and Flour in Bins and Buckets

This is one of the bins I showed at the top of the page, with its lid.

These bins ARE NOT airtight, so don't bother using an oxygen absorber in one.

You can get these bins at Walmart, Home Depot, or Lowe's or—yes, you guessed it—from Amazon online.

Storing Rice and Flour in Air-tight Buckets
Suitable for Storing Salt and Sugar Too

If you're looking for air-tight storage, use feed buckets with lids. Use 2000cc oxygen absorbers in buckets; they're perfect for this as they really ARE air-tight. Check out these buckets at a 'Tractor Supply' website.

We also have a similar post that mentions salt and sugar. Visit Storing Dehydrated Food and Storing Dry Goods such as flour, salt, and sugar.

Where To Store Bins and Buckets?

Great question! Look, I know it's hard to find space in closets, but they are ideal. Why? They are dark (so that keeps direct light off your dry goods. Both the bins and buckets are great for stacking, too.

Put the heavier goods at the bottom of the pile so they're not "top heavy." They hurt when they fall on you. Ask me know I know. Ouch.

You can safely stack around 5 plastic lidded bins; and about 4 buckets in a tower. I could only manage 4 buckets because I'm only a tad over five feet tall! Again, keep the heavier buckets on the bottom.

They don't take up too much room in the closet. I look at it this way: you can eat dehydrated food and beans, but you can't eat clothes.

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